301 Redirect

What Does 301 Redirect Mean?

A 301 redirect is a code implementation that instructs Web browsers to automatically move from one site destination to another. In a 301 redirect, this change is made automatically, without any user activity.

Techopedia Explains 301 Redirect

Some experts characterize the 301 redirect as a simple change of address procedure that can be helpful when a website manager wants to move a site from one URL or domain to another. In some programming languages, users can implement a 301 redirect by modifying response headers. In languages like PHP, programmers can implement a canonical 301 redirect to implement a change for multiple pages in a domain. There’s also an Apache .htaccess redirect, where users can make changes in the root directory to achieve the 301 redirect functionality. In addition, a method within the active server pages or ASP scripts can be effective.

When implementing 301 redirects for a set of pages, experts recommend having a spreadsheet with all of the current site indexed pages and URLs. Some also warn that even perfectly implemented 301 redirects can result in short-term decreases in traffic. However, in situations where new domains can eventually profit a company or business, 301 redirects can pay off over time.